I brought a really interesting book home from the library today. Actually I discovered it in my online meanderings and requested it from interlibrary loan on a whim, but I have a feeling it may end up being a little treasure. I think I was searching around for books by women about WWII when I was working on compiling this list. Intrigued by not only the war aspect of it, how could I pass up a book of letters as well? I'd not heard of Joyce Grenfell before, but it sounds like she's quite famous in the UK. Joyce and Ginnie: The Letters of Joyce Grenfell and Virginia Graham is a collection of letters covering a fifty year correspondence. Imagine!
I don't know if I'll read the book straight through (it's pretty massive and a heavy hardcover that would have to be lugged around), or if I'll just dip into it and maybe read the letters covering the war years. Perhaps I'll start reading and be so captivated I'll just keep going. I thought I'd share a few interesting bits that I've read in the preface and introduction that have me thinking this is a book worth spending time with (and would of course fit in perfectly with my other letter-writing-reading I am doing this year).
This is Virginia Graham and Joyce Grenfell. The two met first when they were seven and became close friends when they were teenagers. They began their correspondence when they were nineteen and it lasted until Joyce's death in 1979. Joyce was an actor, writer, comedian and musician and Ginnie was a writer. When they were apart they wrote almost daily.
In her autobiography Joyce wrote:
"My only continuous practice of putting words to paper was in the diary-letters I wrote to my mother and in the letters I had written to Virginia ever since we were about fifteen and one of us was away from London. These were unedited communications: they rambled on, were sometimes graphic, occasionally funny, sad, 'holy', thoughtful. Their main merit was their liveliness. Virginia told me they read as I spoke. It is amusing to compare how differently in the war, I described the same incident to my mother in America and to Virginia, then living in Bristol to be near Tony who was with an anti-aircraft battery. Because I knew my Ma was agonised about my being in and near London during the bombing, I was gentle about what I told her, played down the unpleasantness of the raids and made light of the damage done. To Virginia, undergoing her own noisy raids in the West Country, I was not so delicate. You would hardly think the letters were written about the same events, or from the same pen."
In writing about Joyce, Virginia notes:
"These letters, written daily when she was not in London, provide a very thorough survey of the world development over the past fifty years in all fields save the political, and as fodder for future historians they are surely invaluable. Joyce wrote at great speed and just as she spoke: if anyone wants to know the price of a Melton Mowbray pie in 1962 or what one wore to a wedding in 1949, it is all here. Here, too, in detail, a whole assortment of people and birds and flowers, all of which she loved. Incidentally, in writing letters she not only demanded of herself full particulars, but also accuracy."
At a time when the US postal service is faltering to a point that it is stopping Saturday delivery and annually raise the prices of stamps, I am amazed to read that in the early days of their correspondence, "sending letters was a fast and efficient business: there were five deliveries to homes a day. A letter posted at breakfast-time reached its destination by tea-time." The two women were close friends and had an obvious affection for each other. Joyce wrote nearly 4,000 letters to Virginia, and Virginia wrote more than 2,000 to Joyce which I also find sort of amazing. Letter writing really is a lost art I think. I am trying to be a better correspondent to my own friends (because there is nothing like writing about the world--even if it's not necessarily the larger world--and getting a reply back). I'm looking forward to dipping into the book as well as reading more books of letter or books on letter writing this year. I'll let you know how it goes.
Joyce Grenfell was a bit of a national institution back in the 50s and 60s. She spoke rather poshly and was known for monologues, often with her as a teacher reprimanding young children. She was, quite frankly, wonderful. Very very funny. I'm sure Youtube would provide you with a few things to look at. I'd love to get this book you've found!
Posted by: Cath | February 27, 2013 at 05:18 PM
This sounds like another winner :) Don't forget to add your links to the review roundup for the Postal Challenge if you'd like others to see them too, if you want to of course! http://indextrious.blogspot.ca/2013/01/postal-reading-challenge-january-march.html
Posted by: Melwyk | February 27, 2013 at 09:01 PM
I'll have to look for something on Youtube about her--I would love to see her acting after reading a bit about her. She sounds quite famous, but I hadn't heard of her before coming upon this book of letters while browsing--I'm really interested to read more now. I know this was published in paperback--maybe you can find a cheap used copy locally.
Posted by: Danielle | February 27, 2013 at 10:19 PM
I didn't have so many books at first to choose from but now I seem to come across them left and right. Thanks for the link--although I am still reading--I have posted teaser sorts of posts on the books I've got underway, so I can at least add those--will check out, too, what everyone else is reading!
Posted by: Danielle | February 27, 2013 at 10:20 PM
I never heard of Joyce Grenfell but Virginia Graham (assuming it's the same person) rings a bell, she made witty, encouraging poetry for the home front during WW2, I reviewed her here: http://smithereens.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/virginia-graham-consider-the-years-1946/
If I can judge from this book, her letters must be lively indeed! Let us know.
Posted by: smithereens | February 28, 2013 at 01:53 AM
I bought a secondhand copy of this recently after Simon raved about it. I ave so much to read at the moment but I do want to get to it soon. I love reading letters.
Posted by: Lyn | February 28, 2013 at 04:00 AM
What a wonderful find! Please do share when you come across something interesting. You know, I wonder what will happen in 50-60 years, will there be books of letters published between people living today? Are there still great correspondences taking place through the post? Or is it all being lost to email?
Posted by: Stefanie | February 28, 2013 at 09:49 AM
Oh My ...do you have a treat in store....
http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/322428.Joyce_Grenfell
One of my favourites is "An Invisible friendship" by Joyce Grenfell and Katherine Moore
just google Joyce Grenfell and youtube if you'd like to see a selection of her work
eg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBFA_AJvrp4
Posted by: Val | February 28, 2013 at 12:08 PM
For some reason the name Joyce Grenfell sounds familiar to me--I feel I've come across her before in someone else's memoirs, or something like that. I will have to check out some of the YouTube links.
This does sound like a gem of a book. How fun.
Posted by: Kathy | February 28, 2013 at 02:55 PM
Oh you have a treat in store, Danielle!
I'm not surprised that Joyce Grenfell isn't all that well known in the US as she was very, very English and, as Cath says, quite posh! She is however very, very funny both in her writing and her acting and monologues - there is a very well known monologue called 'George - Don't Do That!' in which she plays the part of a nursery school teacher which I remember with great pleasure.
Really must go in search of a copy of this book as it looks wonderful!
Posted by: LizF | March 01, 2013 at 04:38 AM
This is on my 50 Books To Read list - I love it, but (scandalously) have only listened to the audio book.
Posted by: Simon T | March 01, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Yes, I think she is indeed the same woman--she was a writer, too. How cool that you have read her and that she wrote poetry--it sounds like the right era. After reading these comments I am quite excited now to read the book of letters. Thanks for the link--I'll check it out!
Posted by: Danielle | March 02, 2013 at 10:31 PM
I see that this was published in a paperback format, so I might by a used copy as well as the copy I have out from ILL is a big hardcover--not something easy to carry around with me. Now that I've had a chance to check it out, I think it would be worth owning. I hadn't realized Simon read it recently, so I will check out what he had to say about it, too. I love reading letters as well and have a little pile of various books by my bedside.
Posted by: Danielle | March 02, 2013 at 10:33 PM
I wonder, too. Maybe books of emails will be published instead? That's sort of depressing really--nowhere near as romantic as the idea of letters crossing in the mail. I wonder how many letters really do get mailed a year? I want to become a better letter writer--certainly the intro to this book has inspired me--will try and be more creative in my missives! :) Wouldn't it be fun to publish a book of postcard correspondence--complete with the pictures of the fronts of the postcards?
Posted by: Danielle | March 02, 2013 at 10:36 PM
Another book to add to my wishlist (actually I am very tempted to order a paper copy of the book you mention as well as the one I have checked out from the library. Both can be had used and fairly cheaply. I can see I have stumbled upon something good! Thanks for the links!
Posted by: Danielle | March 02, 2013 at 10:38 PM
It's entirely likely that you came across her in your reading. She sounds like she was quite famous. It's nice when you happen upon something this good unexpectedly!
Posted by: Danielle | March 02, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Hi Liz! (Hope all is well--I was wondering how you were!). I am curious now to hear her speak/see her act. I will be looking her up on Youtube I think! I'll look for the one you mention. I am just about convinced now to look for a copy of this book to own and return the library copy!
Posted by: Danielle | March 02, 2013 at 10:41 PM
I think this would be fun to listen to on audio from the sounds of things. How did I miss it on your list of 50 books--did you just add it recently? I am so glad to hear the book is good--I can't wait to get into the letters now! (The intro already had me hooked, though....).
Posted by: Danielle | March 02, 2013 at 10:42 PM
I love the idea of this but don't know how anyone prevents themselves from just dipping into a book of letters. I'd be afraid of reading all the ones that just talk about the weather and how the washing got wet again! But Joyce Grenfell was a complete hoot, so I'll bet her letters are most amusing.
Posted by: litlove | March 06, 2013 at 11:12 AM